To start chatting, type a message in the input field near the bottom of the screen. This
input field is selected automatically when you enter the chat and reselected after
most commands. If there is not a cursor present in the input field, use your mouse or
keyboard to select the input field. If you have no mouse you may have to use the [TAB]
key to move the focus to the input field.

Type what you want to say in the input field hit [ENTER] or [RETURN]. There is also a
"POST" or "P" button provided in case hitting [ENTER] doesn't work for you.
Your message will then appear on the chat screen.

If the input field is below the bottom of the page, the window should pop down to
the selected input field after the page loads. Some newer browsers are more advanced
and there will be no visible popdown or flash when the page reloads.

If you are using frames mode the page will auto-refresh every
20 seconds so you an see new messages posted by other chatters. You can also hit [ENTER]
or click POST and any time to refresh the screen and see new messages posted by other chatters.
You can increase the speed of auto-refresh by typing /speed 10, refresh speed to 10 seconds.

If you have an old browser or just don't like frames or auto-refresh you will have to hit
[ENTER] or click [POST] to get the screen to refresh. We suggest you use frames it is faster
and easier.

New messages come in at the bottom of the screen and old messages will scroll off the top
of the screen.

If you keep getting the same screen repeatedly, turn off the buffering. With Internet Explorer
this will be under Tools / Internet Options / Temporary Internet Files / Settings and click
Every Visit to the Page. For Netscape select (Options / Preferences / Cache and Network)
and select Every Time. For NS Communicator select (Edit / Preferences / Advanced / Cache) and
select Every Time.

Lynx users should note that the page will be buffered and you will get the same
screen unless you select the "POST" button and then hit the "x" key to submit your input
without buffering.

Operators are Alamak members. Each Op has a reserved nickname and enters the chat
under that name. The reserved nick cannot be used by regular users.

Operators have '#' marks on each side of thier address. Operators can kick or ban users who come in and
try to harrass, insult, or disrupt chatting but we ask that all Ops try to talk out problems before
resorting to /kick and /ban. Ops help to ensure everyone has a fun and enjoyable chat.

The chat has many commands, see the command help section but here's a couple.

To send a private message here is an example ...

m joe hi there

This sends the message hi there to the chatter nickname joe.

Remember nicks are case sensitive, but there are two shortcuts to typing the full nick. You
can do a /who a click on nick HaRdToType to fill in 'm HaRdToType' then once you've sent
the first message you could type 'm hard [message]' and if there is no chatter nick 'hard' (exactly)
online it will go to 'HaRdToType'. If there is another nick 'hard' online use 'm hardt [message]' instead.
So please, read furthur on our chat commands, it will really make your chatting experience easier and
more fun!

Commands in the chat start with a forward slash (except for the private message shortcut).
Some commands are ...

m [nick] [your message] - send a private message

/help - list the commands in short form

/who - who is in this room

/whoall - who all is on the whole server

/whois joe - see any nickname matching joe online

/nick [new nick] - change your nickname

/join [room] - change rooms

If you are a new chatter at least take a quick look at the Chat Commands and learn how to
send and reply to private messages!